2002 Submarine

**alexsious** · 12-17-2008, 02:40 PM

I have a 2002 Grand Cherokee. I have only had it for a few weeks and I love it!! SO much better than my little Nissan coupe i had before it. Well...a week ago we had flash floods and I was trying to make it home (about 2:30 am). My normal route home was blocked off, so without thinking I took an old road than ran alongside my normal route. BAD IDEA!! I rounded a turn at about 35mph into about 3in of standing water on the road. HUGE wall of water shot up in front of me and I ran off into the ditch. I was floating... water up to the window. I made my escape by rolling down my window and swimming to the street in chest high water. My jeep sank down into the waters totally flooding the interior up to the tailgate. the only part that didn't go under was the driver's tail light. Thankfully it was only submerged for about an hour before the wrecker could pull it out. So now I am working on it trying to get it drive again. After turning the engine over manually with the spark plugs out and vacuuming the cylinders out with a straw taped to a shop-vac, we were able to get the water out. It runs but really choppy. oil is still mocha colored. most of the electronics work. the driver's trim panel barely works though. Anyone know how to separate the circuit board from the switches, or where to get a new module? Brakes are iffy. Got most of the water out of the interior.

so my questions are:
what all should i do to make it safe for the road again?
What are some good websites for OEM parts?

I LOVE this jeep and want to be able to drive it again. Any help will be GREATLY appreciated.

**5.9 ANDY** · 12-17-2008, 02:43 PM

go to this website, they will be able to sell you any parts you will need.

www.jwjeep.com

they are good guys, and good luck with geeting your jeep running again.

BTW, if i were you, idd do an oil change.

**alexsious** · 12-17-2008, 02:54 PM

thank you for the website.

we have been doing oil changes. three so far still mocha. going to run some motor wash and change it again today.

**5.9 ANDY** · 12-17-2008, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexsious

thank you for the website.

we have been doing oil changes. three so far still mocha. going to run some motor wash and change it again today.

good plan.

Bob416 · 12-17-2008, 03:15 PM

first of all if im assuming the flooding was in fresh water? if it was salt then forget it, ul never fix it completely.

anyway, make sure u change ALL the fluids, not just the oil. the tcase, tranny, axles, even ur brake fluid and stuff like that. everything has breather hoses or vents somewhere and if it was all under water then its possible that water leaked inside it.

good luck!

**AgitatedPancake** · 12-17-2008, 03:30 PM

JW Jeep will bend you over and ream you out with their prices. If your willing to do a little driving you can find prices for 1/4 to 1/2 of what jwjeep wants. check out car-part.com. enter the part you want ant your zip, it will show you all the local junkyards that have it and most with a price. For example, JW jeep wanted $750 for a transfer case that I just picked up from another wrecker for $200 yesterday.

Pull the interior completely out, there is a gap between the floorboards and carpet that will let water sit.

I've been there =P

Other then that, you are on the right track. you might have to replace your plugs, definately flush the tranny (might want to have a shop do it as they can do a legitimate flush, like 15 quarts I believe?

**alexsious** · 12-17-2008, 05:02 PM

ok cool. yeah i wanted to know if the drivetrain had breathers. ok i will change the fluids. thanks for the site too

NickkciN · 12-17-2008, 06:23 PM

I would get a snorkel for next time

QuadraTokn · 12-17-2008, 06:41 PM

I have a driver door module I can sell you. PM me if interested.

cloiselle · 12-17-2008, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexsious

I have a 2002 Grand Cherokee. I have only had it for a few weeks and I love it!! SO much better than my little Nissan coupe i had before it. Well...a week ago we had flash floods and I was trying to make it home (about 2:30 am). My normal route home was blocked off, so without thinking I took an old road than ran alongside my normal route. BAD IDEA!! I rounded a turn at about 35mph into about 3in of standing water on the road. HUGE wall of water shot up in front of me and I ran off into the ditch. I was floating... water up to the window. I made my escape by rolling down my window and swimming to the street in chest high water. My jeep sank down into the waters totally flooding the interior up to the tailgate. the only part that didn't go under was the driver's tail light. Thankfully it was only submerged for about an hour before the wrecker could pull it out. So now I am working on it trying to get it drive again. After turning the engine over manually with the spark plugs out and vacuuming the cylinders out with a straw taped to a shop-vac, we were able to get the water out. It runs but really choppy. oil is still mocha colored. most of the electronics work. the driver's trim panel barely works though. Anyone know how to separate the circuit board from the switches, or where to get a new module? Brakes are iffy. Got most of the water out of the interior.

so my questions are:
what all should i do to make it safe for the road again?
What are some good websites for OEM parts?

I LOVE this jeep and want to be able to drive it again. Any help will be GREATLY appreciated.

stay away from starting her if their is any suspect water , which there very well should be in the electrical system. i'd recommend a dry, warm garage for several weeks . it's the dead of winter ... not sure if that's available for you.

hope it works out mate !

**alexsious** · 12-17-2008, 10:38 PM

it runs and drives, but the transmission is FULL of water and i am sure the tcase and diffs are too. the engine after three oil changes in the past week still has mocha colored oil. I just ran motor wash in it. the engine seems fine now. the transmission though...its leaking mocha out of its front seal. I am going to try to put the door back together tomorrow and take it down the street to our local shop and have them change the drivetrain fluids and check the brakes. i think there is water in the calipers.

cloiselle · 12-17-2008, 11:47 PM

no crazy noises ? vibrations ? I had a toyota carolla caught by a flash flood that after an air filter / oil chang drove just as well as before . was in a good 3 feet of water for about 5 minutes too ! sketchy times

gcjeeping · 12-17-2008, 11:59 PM

I had a friend leave his sun roof open during monsoon season in Tucson. He couldnt seem to get all the moisture out after trying. He ended up buying a dehumidifier and every night and days he didnt drive it he had it running in his jeep withe the windows closed. After about 2 weeks it stopped collecting water. Just a thought.

There is a guy here who is parting out a 99' V8 leather seats sun roof ect.

http://dayton.craigslist.org/pts/951285933.html

**alexsious** · 12-30-2008, 01:11 PM

UPDATE:

Its been in the shop for the past week and a half. 8 tranny flushes, 2 TC flushes, and 1 flush for each differential. The shop said they were having trouble with a few sensors and they said they were having trouble with the exhaust. they said within a few moments of the engine running the exhaust was turning cherry red and the engine would overheat. they said that the catalytic converter is damaged and blocking the exhaust. so they cut it off so they could continue. its supposed to be back from the muffler shop today. they were welding it back together. they also mentioned that my jeep had three catalytic converters and they were hoping they weren't bad because they are like $500 a piece. i have never heard of three on one vehicle. and 500 per piece? Does this sound right or is the shop preparing to ream me?

**AgitatedPancake** · 12-30-2008, 01:16 PM

its possible for your WJ to have 3, mine does. From what I've heard the precats (first ones) don't do much, the main downstream cat is the main one, and you can get a high flow one for under $200 IIRC